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Marie Duke-Parker, manager at Alexandra House nursing home in Eastwood, which passed a recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection with flying colours, is unsure about the use of cameras in care homes.

She said: "You have got to protect people but if you're a good manager and have good staff, there are other ways.

"It's about making sure they are all trained, follow procedures and know the risks.''

Martin Gawith, chairman of Healthwatch Nottingham, which represents patients and health service users, said the proposal was not addressing the real problems in care homes.

He said: "For people living in care homes, it is their home. I don't think many of us would like to think we had a TV camera in our own home.

"There's a real question of privacy, I think it's too big an invasion. It's a cover-up for good management. Good management and training should pick out these problems and pick up these difficulties."

Jon Wilson, deputy director for adult social care and health at Notts County Council, also had reservations.

He said: "It is inherently difficult because of privacy issues when residents are receiving intimate personal care and there is also a question of protection of images and with whom they are shared.

"If someone is being mistreated, there is still the issue of this being acted upon effectively and in poor quality homes there is evidence of a failure to act on concerns.

"Good-quality care is driven by consistent managers maintaining an appropriate culture and delivered by trained staff who are effectively supported and supervised on a day-to-day basis.''

But, despite many recognising the issue of privacy, the public was still largely in favour of the scheme.

Zara Macdonald, 18, of Strelley, said: "When my grandad was in care, the staff weren't very nice. They were rude towards us, really rude, so I hate to think what they were like to him when we weren't there.

"I see the privacy thing but I think it is a good idea just so you can keep an eye on them."

Kathe Fairhurst, 64, of Keyworth, said: "If I had anyone in there, I would want CCTV. My mum was treated wonderfully when she was in a home but I would want it for any of my family now."

But Hallema Stewart, 68, of Sherwood, a former carer in a home, said the issue wasn't about poor carers, it was about a lack of numbers.

She said: "The biggest problem is the lack of staff. I was there for three years, day in and day out, seeing the same thing. We would be on the phones trying to find staff and there would be no one to fill in.

"I just think CCTV is an invasion of privacy."

Richard Kellaway, 44, of Edwalton, believed CCTV would help staff. He said: "I think CCTV will protect staff from being accused of mistreatment. My dad had Alzheimer's and sometimes the only way to deal with him when he was being violent was to restrain him.

"CCTV is an easy solution and as well as protecting the good, it will let other staff know they are being watched so they won't take the risk."

During a BBC Panorama programme this week, video footage exposing failures at a HC-One home was shown.

The company is proposing the radical change to tackle abuse. Its chairman, Dr Chai Patel, said: "We need to move forward and tackle this problem once and for all.''

The CQC, which monitors the performance of care homes, is consulting on the idea of using cameras to aid patient safety. A report said: "We think there is a legitimate discussion to have about the use of hidden cameras.''

Good carers won't be concerned about cameras watching them as they have nothing to hide......abusive carers and ones who can't or won't do their jobs properly will dread them.....patients need protecting....families need reassuring that loved ones are being treated properly in care homes.....cameras will address all these concerns.